New Besson International euph?

[TheJH]

Hey everyone, I was browsing the Besson site a few days ago and noticed something curious.
for the last few years Besson stopped manufacturing the Besson International euphonium, and it (logically) disappeared from their site. But when I went to look on the euphonium section, this page showed up...
http://www.besson.com/en/instrument/euphonium
It shows the International again... also the '1000'-series is re-branded 'New Standard'.
Now, I play a mid-'00 International and a '99 International (both 4-valve) and the differences between them are there (the mid-'00 is heavier and has a larger, 12 inch bell, where the '99 one has an 11 inch bell).
However, the page for the International is not yet 'created' as it seems...
Is there someone who has more information about this?
And if Besson are truly going to restart manufacturing the International, I wonder what specs it'll have?

[TheJH]

As for an update, I've seen some new specs for the Student line from Besson, the New Standard.
There seem to be 3 models now instead of the earlier two: The BE162, the BE163 and the BE165.

The 162 and the 165 (or 1062 and 1065?) were in the range already, with the 162 having a .580" bore, yellow brass bell and 3 valves, and the 165 having a 3+1 non-compensating valve set with an 11" yellow brass bell, and a .580" bore as well.
The new model, the 163, is a 3+1 non-compensating model, with a 12" bell and a goldbrass leadpipe. No information about the bore on the site.

The page on the new Internationals is not up yet, however.

Quite interesting to see that a new Student Line model has a different leadpipe and a bigger bell than the other two.
What is the actual difference between leadpipes made of goldbrass, red/rose brass and normal brass? Just sound? or also responsiveness?

[Msan1313]

I remember reading that the student Besson instruments aren't made in the same factory as the higher level instruments. In fact they were said to be made in India, now just to find where exactly I read this...

Does anyone know this to be a fact or a rumor?

[tampaworth]

Various folks have said this at one time or another on the forum. From the Besson web site

2006

By joining the Buffet Crampon Group in 2006, Besson restructured and relaunched its production of professional instruments in Germany and France. The Besson student instruments continue to be manufactured in the factory near Delhi, in India, under the supervision of specialists from the Buffet Crampon Group. A global leader in professional-level clarinets, Buffet Crampon applies all of its technical, acoustic, organizational and marketing talent, as well as its international distribution network, to the Besson brand.

[tampaworth]

Here's a good web page describing the India Besson operation

http://www.indiamart.com/besson-musi...s/aboutus.html